10 Terrifying Supernatural Beings From Across the Globe

As the spooky season draws near and fascination with all things eerie and supernatural peaks, it's the perfect time to delve into the world of chilling folklore. From demonic poultry to hyena-like creatures, here are 10 bizarre and horrifying entities from various cultures that you’d do well to steer clear of. 

Ikiryō // Japan

Ikiryō (生霊, meaning “living ghost”) refers to a spirit that has momentarily detached from a living person’s body to haunt individuals or places. This phenomenon arises from the soul owner’s overwhelming emotions, whether driven by love and longing or anger and vengeance. The spirit mirrors its owner, appearing either as a perfect human replica or a spectral figure. Folklore recounts tales of dying soldiers’ ikiryō bidding farewell to family, lovestruck individuals’ ikiryō pursuing their beloveds, or victims’ ikiryō seeking retribution against their foes. 

Lidérc/csodacsirke // Hungary

The classic version of the lidérc (“cocodemon”) is the csodacsirke (“miracle chicken”), born from a black hen’s first egg when incubated either under your armpit or in a dung heap. This entity torments you with erotic visions or even transforms into a human lover—but like succubi and incubi, it saps your vitality and blood. On the flip side, it can serve as a familiar, performing tasks and uncovering hidden treasures. (Though the benefits might not quite balance the risks.) The creature is so ingrained in Hungarian culture that the term for nightmare is lidércnyomás.

Phi Tai Hong // Thailand

Originating from the Thai terms phi (ผี, meaning “ghost”) and tai hong (ตายโหง, meaning “to die violently or unnaturally”), a phi tai hong is the spirit of someone who met a sudden or brutal end, leaving their earthly desires unfulfilled and their passage to the afterlife incomplete. These ghosts are highly perilous—especially in the first week after death—and it’s advised to avoid the site of their demise during this period, as they may attempt to kill intruders in the same manner they perished.

Searching for a spooky addition to your Halloween movie lineup? Phi tai hong feature in the 2003 Thai comedy-horror cult favorite Buppah Rahtree, as well as the 2010 anthology horror film Still (original title: Tai Hong).

Chullachaki // Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon

Originating from the Quechuan terms chulla (“odd”) and chaki (“foot”), the chullachaki is a dwarf-like entity that wanders the Amazon, targeting lost wanderers. It possesses the ability to shapeshift, often mimicking someone familiar to lure you further into the forest. Once you’re hopelessly lost, it ensnares you, seizing your soul and condemning you to an eternal existence in the wilderness.

Fortunately, there’s an easy way to avoid this fate: Inspect its feet. A chullachaki will have one human-like foot and one resembling an animal’s. To escape, simply shout its name, causing it to reveal its true form and flee, leaving behind uneven footprints. 

Kichkandi // Nepal

Legend has it that a kichkandi (किच्कन्डी) is created when a woman isn’t properly cremated—her soul attaches to a remaining bone fragment, manifesting as a ghost with long black hair, pale skin, and clad in a red or white sari. Like many restless spirits, they suffered injustice in life and met a sudden, tragic end (often dying during pregnancy or childbirth). They frequently haunt roadsides or bridges and are known to hitch rides. They primarily target male travelers, draining their life force and leaving them withered and pale.

Similar to the chullachaki, you can evade this spirit by checking its feet—which, in the case of a kichkandi, are backwards. So, if a woman asks for a ride late at night, make sure to glance at her feet before allowing her into your vehicle.

Kishi // Angola

A kishi (translating to “spirit” in various Bantu languages) is a two-faced demon from Angola. From the front, it resembles a handsome man with long, thick hair—but hidden beneath is a second face, that of a hyena. The kishi is often depicted as having shapeshifting abilities and the power to control natural elements. It resides in secluded areas, preying on young women it encounters; in some tales, it devours its victims with its hyena face, while in others, it fathers children with them to perpetuate its bloodline, consuming the mother once the offspring is born.

Strandgast // Sweden

Literally meaning “beach ghost” but often referred to as a “drowning ghost,” a strandgast (or strandvaskare) is the apparition of someone who perished at sea. Since their body (or sometimes soul) didn’t receive a proper burial—either because it was interred on the beach or never recovered—their spirit lingers along the coast, leaping onto backs and tormenting those unfortunate enough to cross their path until their remains are laid to rest in consecrated ground. Beware: Contact with one of these spirits often leads to serious illness or other calamities. In Swedish, this is known as gastkramad, meaning “ghost-hugged.”

If you’re searching for another horror flick to add to your watchlist, consider 2004’s Drowning Ghost (original title: Strandvaskaren), featuring a young Rebecca Ferguson. However, tread carefully—it has garnered notoriously poor reviews.

Manananggal // Philippines

The manananggal (derived from the Tagalog word tanggál, meaning “to remove”) is a vampiric entity resembling a human woman. When hunting, it splits into two, sprouting massive wings from its torso to fly off in pursuit of prey (with its intestines trailing) while leaving its lower half behind. It targets sleeping pregnant women, using its elongated tongue to drain their blood or extract their fetuses’ hearts. Men are also prey, though the manananggal prefers to devour them alive after luring them to secluded areas. The creature is repelled by vinegar, garlic, salt, and sunlight, among other things; the most effective way to kill it is by sprinkling salt or crushed garlic on its detached lower half. At sunrise, if it cannot reattach its body, it perishes.

For a film exploring a manananggal falling in love, watch 2016’s The Manananggal at Unit 23B (original title: Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B). However, don’t expect a romantic comedy—this movie is firmly rooted in horror.

Madam Koi Koi // Nigeria

Madam Koi Koi is believed to be the vengeful spirit of a teacher who haunts boarding schools across Nigeria. Her name stems from the distinctive “Koi Koi” sound her red heels produce as she walks. One popular origin tale recounts her violent behavior toward students during her lifetime. After striking a student so forcefully that she damaged their ear, she was dismissed. She died soon after and began haunting the school in retribution. Over time, her spirit has reportedly expanded beyond that single school, with sightings of her roaming hallways and dormitories after curfew throughout Nigeria. The Netflix horror film The Origin: Madam Koi-Koi (2023) draws loose inspiration from this legend.

Gumiho // Korea

A gumiho (hangul: 구미호, hanja: 九尾狐, meaning “nine-tailed fox”) is a mythical creature from Korean folklore. While similar fox spirits exist in Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese traditions, the gumiho is often depicted in a more sinister manner. In its supernatural form, it appears as a fox with numerous tails; tails are gained as the gumiho grows older, wiser, and more powerful, eventually reaching nine tails. The gumiho can transform into a stunning woman (though it may retain some fox-like traits, such as ears or a tail). In many tales, its ultimate goal is to become human, achieved through various means—one common method involves consuming the livers of 1000 men. Central to its lore is the “fox bead,” a small orb used to siphon a human’s life force. It places the bead in a human’s mouth and retrieves it through a kiss, absorbing more energy with each repetition.

For those who prefer binge-watching K-dramas over horror films, gumihos are a recurring theme in Korean dramas. My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (2010) and My Roommate is a Gumiho (2021) are romantic comedies centered around college students who fall for gumihos. Tale of the Nine Tailed (2020) and its prequel Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938 (2023) are popular fantasy series that delve into the lives of a 1000-year-old gumiho and his half-gumiho sibling. Notably, while traditional folklore often portrays gumihos as beautiful women, these modern dramas reimagine them as male characters.